Dugi Otok Full-Day Boat Trip with Sakarun Beach and Sunken Ship Zadar

Golubinka Blue Cave

The first stop of the day is Golubinka, a sea cave on the coast of Dugi Otok whose name comes from the wild pigeons that nest in its rocks. Sunlight enters through the opening and reflects off the white seabed, so the water inside glows a deep electric blue, especially in the late morning when the sun is high.

The speedboat stops at the entrance and you can swim straight into the cave with your mask to see the light play on the walls and the fish below. Many visitors call it the most magical moment of the trip. Conditions depend on the sea, and the skipper decides on the day how long to stay; on calm summer mornings it is a perfect first swim, and an easy one even for confident beginners.

Sakarun beach

Sakarun, on the north-west of Dugi Otok, is often described as the most beautiful beach on the Croatian coast and is frequently compared to the Caribbean. A long crescent of fine pale sand slopes very gently into the sea, so the water stays shallow and turquoise far from the shore, while a thick pine forest behind the beach offers natural shade.

On this tour you have around one hour and forty-five minutes at Sakarun beach, enough to swim, float in the shallows, walk the full length of the bay and relax under the trees. It is ideal for children and non-confident swimmers. The best time to visit Sakarun beach is from June to September, when the water is warm; a small local fee may be charged on site in high season.

The sunken ship off Dugi Otok

Off the north-west coast of Dugi Otok lies one of the most photographed wrecks in Croatia: a large cargo ship known as the Michele, which ran aground here in 1983 and was never removed. Its rusting hull still rises above the water, slowly being reclaimed by the sea and colonised by small fish and marine plants.

The speedboat stops close by so you can put on your mask and snorkel around the wreck, where the water is clear and fairly shallow. Your skipper tells the story of how the ship came to be stranded here and points out the best side to explore. It is a highlight for photographers and snorkellers alike, and for many guests the reason they choose this Dugi Otok tour from Zadar over a simple beach trip.

Veli Rat lighthouse and the military tunnel

The lighthouse at Veli Rat, built in 1849 on the north-west tip of the island, is one of the tallest on the Adriatic, at over 40 metres. Local tradition says thousands of egg yolks were mixed into the paint of its warm-coloured tower to make it last. Beside it stands a small chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas, protector of sailors, surrounded by pines and rocky shore.

You have about 45 minutes here to walk up for wide views over the open sea and the coves below, take photos and enjoy a short break; a small fee may apply on site. The tour also visits a former military tunnel cut deep into the island rock, a cool and slightly mysterious place whose story the skipper shares on the way. Together they show a different side of Dugi Otok beyond its beaches.

Božava and a pine-fringed cove on Ugljan

Lunch is taken in Božava, a small fishing village on the north-east coast of Dugi Otok with a pretty harbour, stone houses and shady waterfront terraces. Lunch is not included, but the skippers recommend several restaurants so you can choose between beef, fish and vegetarian dishes and enjoy a relaxed meal by the sea.

In the afternoon the boat crosses towards Ugljan, the green island facing Zadar. Near the village of Muline you swim in a hidden natural cove where pine trees grow right down to the crystal-clear water, and you can see the remains of an olive oil mill from Roman times, more than two thousand years old. It is a calm, beautiful last stop before the short ride back to Zadar.